Big 6 Flashcards
How do you maintain IFR currency?
Within the preceding 6 calendar months, you must have performed and logged:
* 6 instrument approaches
* holding procedures
* Interception and tracking of courses using a navigation system
If you are within 6 months of your last month of currency, you need only take an appropriate safety pilot with you as you do the approaches, holds, tracking needed to bring you up to currency. If you allow your currency to lapse beyond the 6 month grace period, you need to see an instructor for an IPC.
What are the required wx minimums at your destination and your alternate?
You must file an alternate if within 1 hour before and after your ETA the wx forecast at your destination is less than:
* a 2,000 foot ceiling
* visibility is forecast to be less than 3 miles
If you are required to file an alternate, the standard minimums for the forecast at your ETA at that airport must be at least a 600 foot ceiling with 2 miles visibility if the airport has a precision approach, or an 800 foot ceiling with 2 miles visibility if the airport does not have a precision approach.
What are the mandatory IFR reports?
You must report:
* Vacating any previously assigned altitude or flight level
* Altitude changes during VFR on top
* Unable to maintain at least 500 fpm climb
* Missed approach
* Airspeed changes of at least 5% or 10 knots whichever is greater
* Time and altitude upon reaching a holding fix or point to which cleared
* Leaving a hold or fix
* Any loss of navigation or communication equipment
* Any information related to safety of flight
* Any ‘solid tri-angles’ on the low-altitude chart
These reports are essential for maintaining safety and situational awareness in IFR conditions.
Explain appropriate ‘lost comm’ procedures.
Follow the route: AVE F (Assigned, Vectored, Expected, Filed)
Follow the altitude: MEA (Minimum Enroute Altitude), highest of the Minimum, Expected, or Assigned.
These procedures ensure that pilots maintain a safe altitude and route when communication is lost.
What 3 things need to be in place before you may descend below published minimums on an approach?
You must have:
* A position from which you can make a normal approach and landing
* The required flight visibility
* The runway environment in sight, including at least one of:
* approach light system
* the threshold
* the threshold markings
* the threshold lights
* the runway end identifier lights
* the visual approach slope indicator
* the touchdown zone or touchdown zone markings
* the touchdown zone lights
* the runway or runway markings
* the runway lights
These criteria are critical for ensuring a safe landing in IFR conditions.
What are the 3 criteria for a standard instrument departure?
You must:
* Be at least 35’ AGL at the departure end of the runway
* Climb gradient of at least 200 feet per nautical mile
* Climb to at least 400’ AGL before turning
If the takeoff minimums are non-standard, you must be able to find and know how to apply those alternate minimums in a scenario.
